Ms Samutsevich is serious and thoughtful, refusing to fawn over any of the celebrities like Madonna and Yoko Ono who backed their plight.

"In reality I want to thank all famous people who supported us publicly, and people who supported us through sending us letters, food, small things.

"This kind of help is just as important as the high profile stuff. I am equally grateful to all people who supported us. I want to shake hands with all of them."

Ms Samutsevich, who spent months being scrutinised in a glass box, is not comfortable with the idea of becoming a celebrity herself.

"I never wanted this. To be honest, I wanted my life to be the same as before the arrest.

"I know that's impossible now, but I will try to limit this so called popularity, I don't really like it. I do want to answer questions of people who are interested, but I don't really want to do it as a celebrity."

She said it was strange seeing these images now and that it felt very different sitting inside the glass box that became so familiar across the world, but the resolve she expressed in it remains - she does not accept that she committed any crime.